Automatic refrigerating apparatus.



R. F. MASSA.

AUTOMATIC RBFRIGERATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 9,'1906.

Patented July 27, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

R. F. MASSA.

AUTOMATIC REPRIGBRATING APPARATUS.

APPLIoATIoN FILED JULY 9, 1906.

929, 1 5 1 Patented July 27, 1909.

2 sums-SHEET 2.

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ATOMATIC REFRGERATIN G APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 27, 1909.

Application filed July 9, 1906. Serial N0. 325,209.

To all 'whom'fit may 'concer/n:

Be it known that I, ROBERT F. MASSA, a citizen of the United Sates, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Automatic Refrigerating Apparatus, of which the following is a complete specification.

This invention relates to an automatic electrically controlled system of refrigeration in which' a plurality of refrigerating compartments may be employed; and more particularly to that class in which the refrigerating medium is controlled in its admission to the expansion coils by thermostatic connections actuated by temperature variations and independent of the coil pressure or pressure actuated means while the stoppin and starting of the compressor are controlle by variations in pressure in the high and low pressure sides of the system.

In the ap aratus herein disclosed the employment o anhydrous ammonia is contemplated but this system is equally applicable when it is desired to use some other refrigerating medium.

The object in view is to provide a simple and efficient automatic refrigerating apparatus capable of maintainin different degrees of temperature in a num er of refrigerating compartments; to stop the compressor automatically in the event of an excessive pressure in the condenser, to control the motor through variations of pressure in the return to the compressor, to meter the refrigcrating medium when admitting it to the expansion coils, and to protect the electrical contactv points of the thermostat and pressure gages from the injurious effects of sparking or arcs when Contact is broken. It is often desirable to meter the refrigerant in order to determine the amount supplied to the various compartments.

The general plan is as follows: a compressor, a condenser, a high pressure feed pipe, a low pressure return or suction pipe, and one or more expansion coils in refrigerating compartments are provided. The refrigerating medium is supplied to each coil through'an electricallyl operated meter valve located in a branch of the high pressure pipe and which is controlled by suitable connection with a thermostat in the corresponding compartment. The movement of the compressor is controlled by pressure gages placed on the high and the low pressure sides of the system, the said gages opcrating through electrical connections aud solenoids to open and close the switches. Auxiliary switches are preferably introduced to protect the contact points of the pressure 'gages from the injurious effectsv of sparking or arcmg.

The arrangement and operation of the im- -provement are clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichf- Flgure 1 represents a diagrammatic view of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a detail section of the meter valve, and Fig. 3 is a modification designed as a substitute for the meter valve and the parts controlling same.

Referring to the drawings A designates a motor, B a compressor directly connected therewith and C a condenser all of which may be of any approved form.

D, D1, etc., represent a plurality of refrigerating chambers only two being show n however and d, d1 etc. represent the expansion coils located therein. The pipe E conducts the refrigerating medium under high pressure from the condensing chamber C to the expansion coils d, d1 etc., and the suction or return pipe F conducts the same from the expansion coils back to thc compressor B. The refrigerant is admitted from the pipe E on the high pressure side of the system to the expansion coils through the meter valves G, Gr1 etc., these valves operating both to measure the amount admitted and to act as expansion valves on the material passed through. The meter valves G and G1, a detail description of which will be hereinafter given, are operated by an intermittent current in circuit 1l which forms one branch of circuit 1. The current in the branch l1 is rendered intermittent by being short circuited periodically by means of the interrupter H. The current in branch 11 is also controlled by means of the thermostat' T located in the corres ending refrigerating chamber and electrica ly connected by the circuit 3 to operate a switch 2 which is located in branch l2 of the circuit l. ll'hen in operation the interrupter H is arranged to short circuit the circuit 11 and meter G1 as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The circuit 3 is made up of a non-inductive resistance 8 in series with the magnet solenoid 7 and is provided with branch connections to the needle of the thermostat T, and to contact points 4 and 5 of said thermostat. Contact of the needle with the point 5 will short circuit the resistance 8 thereby enabling the magnet of' the solenoid 7 to open the switch 2 by reason of the increased current' assin therethrough. Contact of the need e wit Vvalve G1 to be in operation with the temperature in this compartment falling in consequence, and the switch 2 open. The branch' 13 of the circuit 1 will be alternately completed and broken through the interrupter H thus alternately short circuiting the meter G1 and then sending an intermittent or interrupted current therethrough thus causing the said valve to adinit measured quantities of Huid in a manner which will be hereinafter more fully set forth in the detail description lof the meter valve. When the temperature, has reached the minimum desired contact is made at the point 4 thus closing the switch 2 which will'in turn short circult the meter valve G1 and stop it. When the temperature reaches the maximum desired contact is made at 5 short circuiting the resistance 8 and allowing enough current to pass to lift the armature of the solenoid 7 thus breaking the short circuit of the meter valve and restoring it to the control of the interrupter H.

The motor A is operated through the circuit9,and the switch 10. controlling this circuit is actuated through suitable electrical connections 14 with the needle of the suction lpressure gage -llfon the .suction pipe F.

A solenoid 12 which lifts the switch 10 and a non-inductive resistance 13 are in this circuit 14. Normally the current passes through the lresistance 13 and the solenoid 12 but is not suiiicient to lift the switch 10. The coil 13 is like the coil 8 in its resistance properties andserves to conduct sufficient electricity to maintain the switch 10 closed after it has once been 'raised by the solenoid 12.

When the pressure in"l the suction pipe .F rises to the maximum desired and causes the needle of the gage 11 to engage the contact point 15 the non-inductive resistance 13 isy short circuited thus allowing suicient current to pass along the circuit marked a and through the 'solenbid 12 to energize the armature of said solenoid causing it to. close the switch 10 in the circuit 9 and-'start'the motor.

17 and 18 are auxiliary switches employed to protect the contact ints 15 vand -16 of the pressure gage 11 an 'the switches 18 and 19 serve the same function for the contact points 21 and 22 of the pressure gage 20 on the high pressure side of the system. The passing o a current through the solenoid 12 operates first and primarily to close the switch 10 and secondarily to open switch 18 and close switches 17 and 19. In the diagram switch 10 is shown open and when in this position auxiliary switches 17 and 19 are also open and switch 18 is closed. As the pressure falls in the suction pipe F the contact between the needle of the gage 11 and the contact point 15 is broken the circuitvis dead and no sparking occurs as the circuit through the point 15 has already been broken at the switch 18. When the pressure in the suction pipe has fallen to the desired minimum contact is made by the needle with the point 16 thus short circuiting the solenoid 12 through the switch 17 which is now closed, this circuit being indicated by b. This will denergize the solenoid 12 causing it to open the switch 10 and stop the motor and to open the switches 17 and 19 and close switch 18.

condenser the needle o the condenser pressure gage 20 will break the contact point 21 and make contact'withthe point 22 thus passing a current through the contrary coil 121 of the solenoid 12 denergizing it, opening the switch 10, and stopping the motor. The switches 17, 18 and 19 are in the positionsshown when the motor is not running and in the reverse positions when the Amotor is in operation, their function being as previously stated to protect the contact points 15, 16, 21 and 22 from sparking when breakingV contact. The auxiliary switches 17, 18 and 19 it is evident could equally as w'ell be controlled by other means than solenoids.

Instead of meter valves G. G1, etc., operated through the interrupter H, the modification shown in Fig. 3 might be substituted, in which meter valves are replaced by a suitable form of control valve 24 and an expansion valve 25. The interrupter H is not required in such arrangement and the circuit A1 controlled by the switch 2 is employed without any of the branch circuits while the thermostat T controls the switch 2 in the same manner as before.

.The meter valve is constructed as follows:

J0 In case an excessive ressure arises in the l A valve body 26 is provided with the inlet 27 and-outlet 28. A plug 29 supporting a valve seat 30 is fitted into an opening in the body 26 in alinement with the inlet opening 27. This plug and valve seat, in effect constituting, asingle piece, is provided with the-metering chamber 31 which is made adjustable in capacity by means of the adjust- `ing plug 32. An outlet pipe 33 with the va v e 34 furnishes means b which the chamber mayfbe cleanedv or ilus ed out. A valve chamber 35 is formed in the valve body 26 immediately above the valve seat 30 and on the slide val've 36. Two

and a thirdfport 39 leads ture and about this cap i's placed the energizing coil 43 connectingiwith the circuit 11 of. the circuit 1, the inclosing wall 44 and cap 45 surrounding said coil. The cap 42 is held against the valve body by means of the bolts 46 while insulating material 47' surrounds the coil A sprmg 48 acts to press the armature away from its seat.

The operation of the Valve is as follows: An interrupted current in the circuit 11l passing through the coil 43 will alternately energize and denergize 'the armature 42 thus in conjunction with the sprin 48 causin `it to'move back and forth. hen the v a ve is in' the full line position shown in Fig. 2 the transverse channel 361 in the Valve 36l will registerl with the port 38 in the valve seat 30 and admit the refri erant to the metering chamber A31, the out et port 37 of the said chamber'being closed at this time.

When the slide valve 36 moves to the opposite end of its stroke the cavit 362 in the bottom thereof will register with both the outlet port 37 of the chamber 31 andthe outlet 39 of thevalve itself vthus allowing the measured quantity of 'vrefri erant in the chamber to escape and pass rom the valve to the expansion coils d, d1, etc.

What I claim as my invention and desire; -to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an automatic system'of refri eration, in combination, a compressor, a condenser, a refrlgeratlng compartment having an exL panslon coil located therein, connections between the said condenser and coil and between the coil and the compressor, anvelectrically operated meter Valve placed in the connection leadin from the condenser for admitting the re rigerating medium to the said coil, a circuit or supplying` current to .expansioncoils for controllin vadmission ,of the refrigerant to said coil', 'an electrically actuated thermostatically controlled device for controlling said means and means for producing an intermittent current in said device whereby a periodic action of said means is produced.

3. In an automatic systemof refrigeration,

in combination, a motor, a compressor, a A

Icondenser, one or more expansion coils, high and low pressure connections extending respectively between the expansion-coils and the condenser and between the expansion coils and the compressor, separate compartments for containin each of said coils, athermostat containe in each compartment, electrically operated valves located between the expansion coils and the high pressure connection extendin to the condenser, electrical connections or controlling the said valve'from the thermostat, and means for producing an intermittent current in said electrical connection whereb a periodic action'of the `valve is produced 4. Inan automatic system of refrigeration, in combination, a compressor, a con enser, a plurality of expansion coils, refrigerating compartments lnclosing said coils, meter valves located between the condenser andl the admission of the refrigerant to sai coils, a circuit in connection with each meter Valve for operating same, said circuit including two branches, an interrupter located in one of said branches for passing an interrupted current through the meter valve, and a switch located 1n the second branch, and a thermostat for controlling said switch.

ROBERT F. MASSA. Witnesses: v

J. C. WARNES, MARGARET A. SWEENEY. 

